[Golden Italian Knocker on Red Door – Rome, Italy]
A teacher friend of mine is currently traveling through Italy and Greece with a group of high school students. Here is some of the photography advice I shared with his young travelers:
- Read (or reread) your Camera Manual from cover to cover. Don’t wait to do this until you’re on the plane. If you read your manual and practice using all the various settings on your camera well before you leave, you’ll have myriad tricks at your disposal on the first day of the trip, not just the last day.
- Shoot at least 50 photos a day/night for the week leading up to the trip. Yes, you have 10 million other things to do, but if you shoot a lot just before you leave you’ll train yourself to see more in the people and environment around you. You’ll be more comfortable with your camera and carry this ability to see well with you when you reach your destination. Think of it as practice for the big game.
- Take 5-10 minutes a day to meditate on the world around you. The difference between a mediocre photographer and a brilliant photographer is that a good photographer sees the world around her – she doesn’t just look or snap, but sees what is truly there before her. When you’re in the zone, photography is very similar to meditation…everything slows down and you see highlights, mid-tones, shadows. You notice everything, choose what to shoot, bring the camera to your eye, and then create an image. Taking 5-10 minutes a day to sit quietly and meditate on your surroundings is another simple and easy way to prepare for the sensory overload of a good trip!
Related posts:
- The World Just Outside Your Vision
- When To Use Your Eyes and When To Use Your Camera
- Investing In Your Ability to See
In Joy,
Melinda Eliza